Magnetic switch



July 31, 1962 R. L. SPRAGUE ETAI.

MAGNETIC swrrcn Filed Jan. 8, 1960 The/r Attorney United. States PatentOfiice I 3,047,690 Patented July '31, 1962 3,047,690 MAGNETIC SWITCHRichard L. Sprague and Donald F. Wigner, Anderson,

Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 1,265 9 Claims.(Cl. 200-87) This invention relates to magnetically operated switchesand more particularly to a magnetic switch which'when manually moved toa closed position is held in this position by magnetic forces generatedby a coil winding.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a magnetic switchwhich is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and durablein operation,

Another object of this invention is to provide a magnetic switch thatincludes a movable armature core that carries a coil winding, thearmature core also supporting an electrical contactor which is adaptedto complete a circuit for the coil winding whenever the armature core ismanually shifted to a predetermined position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a magnetic switch thatincludes an armature core member carrying a coil winding and wherein aswitch contactor moves with the armature core member to complete acircuit for the coil winding whenever the armature core member ismanually moved in one direction, there being a resilient means providedfor normally biasing the armature core member in such a direction thatthe circuit for the coil winding is open.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is.-a sectional view taken along line 11 of FIGURE 2illustrating a magnetic switch made in accordance with this invention.

'FIGURE 2 is a sectionalview taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1. a

FIGURE 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the magnetic switch of thisinvention, the switch being shown for use. in controlling theapplication of power from a battery to a load.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURE 1, it isseen that the magnetic switch. of this invention includes a metal caseor housing which is secured to a base member 12 by staking over thehousing-10 as at 14. The base member 12 is formed of a suitinsulatingmaterial. The tubular member carries an annular contact 42 which is madeof suitable electrically conductive material and which isconnected toone side of the coil winding 34 via a lead wire 44. The other lead ofcoil winding 34 is connected with the metal spool member 36 which inturn is electrically connected with the case 10 of the magnetic switchvia the core member 32 and spring 46. A metal washer 48 formed ofmagnetic material is carried by the armature core member 32 and ispositioned between the insulator member 40' and a shoulder formed on thearmature core.

The armature core 32 carries a manual actuator 52 which passes through ametal bushing 54 formed of magnetic material and secured within anopening in the case 10. The bushing 54 slidably supports the coil andcontactor assembly during its axial movement Within the case 10.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 3, a circuit is illustratedemploying the magnetic switch of this invention. It is seen that thecoil winding 34 has one lead wire 44 connected with the contactor 42 andhas another lead wire 45 connected directly to ground The lead wire 45of FIGURE 3 corresponds to one end of the coil Wind- 'ing 34 which iselectrically connected with the metal spool 36 and thus is electricallyconnected with the case Ill of the switch. It will be appreciated thatthe case 19 in the system will be at ground potential. The contact 26 isconnected to one side of an electrical load 58, the opposite side of theload being connected to ground as shown. The contact 22 is connected toone side of a manually operable switch 60 and this switch is connectedto one side of a storage battery 62. It is seen that the opposite sideof the contactor assembly 30 leftwardly in FIGURE 1 to a positionwherein the contactor 42 connects the contacts 22 and 26. In thisposition ofthe magnetic switch, the metal washer 48 engages the metalwasher 28. When the contactor 42 connects the contacts 22 and 26, acircult is made for the load 58 and a circuit is also made when the coilwinding 34 is energized. and the contactor able electrical insulatingmaterial and carries a pair of male terminals 16 and 18 which areadapted to be. connected to a female type of connector. The terminal 16is held to the base member 12 by a rivet, 20 which also holds acontactor 22 in place. A .similar rivet 24 holds the terminal 18 and asecond contactor 26 fixed with respect v to the base 12. The contactors22 and 26 are formed of reference numeral 30 and which includes thearmature core member 32 and the coil winding 34. A metal spool 36carries the coil winding and this spool is press fitted to the armaturecore member 32. The core member 32 is formed of a suitable magneticmaterial and has an extension 38 which carries a tubular member 40formed of '42 will continue to connect the contacts 22 and 26, Themagnetic switch will now maintain the circuit closed between the battery.62 and load 58 as long as the switch 60 is closed. Whenthe switch 60 isopened, the circuit for the coil winding 34 is opened and the spring 46shifts the coil and contactor assembly 30 back to its positionillustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein thecontactor 42 is out of contact withthe contacts 22 and 26. The magnetic switch may also be opened bygrasping the manual actu ator 52 and shifting it rightwardly in FIGURE'lto cause contactor 42 to be shifted out of engagement with contacts 22and 26. This will break the circuit for coil winding 34 so that theswitch will remain open until contactor 42 is once more caused to engagecontacts 22 and 26.

In the FIGURE 1 position of the switch, the end of the extension 38contacts the base member 12 to prevent further rightward movement of thecontactor and coil assembly 30. When the switch is pulled leftwardlymanually, the bushing 54 serves to guide the switch and in the closedposition of the switch, the magnetic attraction between plates 28 and 48aids in supporting the coil and traction of plates 28 and 48 when themagnetic switch is shifted to a position wherein the contactor 42connects the contacts 22. and 26.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood th-at other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A magnetic switch comprising, a shiftable assembly including; anarmature core, a coil winding and a contactor all movable together as aunit, a pair of fixed contacts adapted to be engaged by said contactor,one of which is adapted to be connected to a power source and the otherof which is adapted to be connected to a load,

and a lead Wire shiftable with said assembly connecting said coilwinding wtih said contactor.

2. A magnetic switch comprising, a shiftable assembly including; anarmature core, a coil winding and an electrical contactor, manuallyoperable means for shifting said shiftable assembly, a pair of fixedcontacts one of which is adapted to be connected to a power source andthe other of which is adapted to be connected to a load, said contactsbeing positioned to be engaged by said contactor when said shiftableassembly is shifted, and a conductor connecting said coil winding withsaid contactor and shiftable with said assembly.

3. A magnetic switch comprising, a shiftable assembly including; anarmature core, a coil winding, a plate member formed of magneticmaterial and an electrical contactor insulated from said core member, arelatively fixed plate member formed of magnetic material spaced fromthe plate member carried by said shiftable assembly, a pair ofelectrical contacts one of which is adapted to be connected to a powersource and the other of which is adapted to be connected to a load, saidelectrical contacts being positioned for engagement with said contactorwhen said shiftab-le assembly is shifted, an electrical conductorconnecting said coil winding with said contactor, and resilient meansbiasing said shiftable assembly to a position wherein said magneticplate members are spaced apart and said contactor is spaced from saidcontacts.

4. A magnetic switch comprising, a base member formed of insulatingmaterial carrying a pair of fixed electrical contacts, one of which isadapted to be connected to a power source and the other of which isadapted to be connected to a load, a housing secured to said base memberformed of magnetic material, a bushing carried by said housing, a platemember formed of magnetic material carried by said housing, a shiftableassembly including an armature core member having a portion slidablethrough said bushing, a coil winding, a second plate member formed ofmagnetic material and a contactor, said contactor being adapted toengage said fixed contacts when shiftable assembly is shifted and saidsecond plate member being adapted to contact said first plate memberwhen said shiftable assembly is shifted, resilient means interposedbetween said shiftable assembly and said housing and an electricalconductor connecting said coil winding with said contactor.

5. A magnetic switch comprising, a shiftable assembly including; anarmature core memberv formed of magnetic material carrying a coilwinding, a plate member formed of magnetic material and an electricalcontactor, a conductor connecting one end of said coil winding with saidcontactor and shiftable with said assembly, means connecting the otherend of said coil winding withv said core member, a pair of fixedelectrical contacts adapted to be engaged by said contactor when saidshiftable assembly is shifted, a plate member formed of magneticmaterial fixed with respect tosaid shiftable assembly, and resilientmeans for biasing said shiftable assembly in one direction.

6. A magnetic switch comprising, a housing, a shiftable assemblyincluding; a coil winding and an electrical contactor slidably supportedin cantilever fashion by said housing, resilient means for biasing saidshiftable assemlby into engagement with a portion of said housing, apair of fixed contacts positioned to be engaged by said contactor whensaid shiftable assembly is shifted, and a conductor connecting one endof said coil winding with said contactor. t i E l 7. A magnetic switchcomprising, housing means d fining an enclosed chamber, a shiftableassembly positioned within said housing means including; an armaturecore member, a coil winding, and a contactor, means connecting one endof said coil winding with said contactor, means slidably supporting saidshiftable assembly in said housing means, a pair of fixed contactsadapted to be engaged by said contactor, and resilient means normallyurging one end of said shiftable assembly into engagement with a portionof said housing means.

8. A magnetic switch comprising, a shiftable assembly including; anarmature core, a coil winding and a contactor all movable together as aunit and shiftable in two directions, a pair of fixed contacts adaptedto be engaged by said contactor when said assembly is shifted in onedirection, one of which is adapted to be connected to a power source andthe other of which is adapted to be connected to a load, a lead wireshiftable with said assembly connecting said coil winding with saidcontactor, and resilient means biasing said shiftable assembly in anopposite direction, said assembly and contactor being manually shiftableout of engagement with said fixed contacts' against the magneticattraction of said coil wind ings when it is energized and beingshiftable out of en gagement with said fixed contacts by said resilientmeans when said coil winding is deenergized.

9. A magnetic switch comprising, a shiftable assembly including; anarmature core, 'a coil winding and contactor all movable together as aunit, at least one fixed contact adapted to be engaged by saidcontactor, and a lead wire shiftable with said assembly connecting saidcoil winding with said contactor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,839,629 Williams Jan. 5, 1932 1,934,320 Nowosielski Nov. 7, 19332,283,340 Ray May 19, 1942 2,298,068 Pierce Oct. 6, 1942 2,648,735Marshall Aug. 11, 1953 2,661,412 Dreyfus Dec. 1, 1953 2,663,804 WolfDec. 22, 1953

